Pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system and method for making the same

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system for use to clean the cylinders of printing machines. The system includes a pre-soaked fabric roll saturated to equilibrium with low volatility organic compound solvent which is wrapped around a cylindrical core having open ends to form a roll. The saturated, wrapped fabric roll is inserted in a heat-sealable or heat-shrinkable and heat-sealable plastic sleeve, the sleeve being to intimate contact with the fabric roll after being subjected in heat-sealing or heat-shrinking and heat-sealing, thus permitting transporting and storage of the system until use without detrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of the fabric roll. 
     The system may also include a slotted canister in which the saturated wrapped roll is inserted before it is placed into the plastic sleeve and heat-sealed or heat-shrunken and heat-sealed thereon or end caps inserted in the open ends of the core. 
     A method for making the system is also disclosed.

.Iadd.This is a continuation of now abandoned application Ser. No.08/419,752, filed on Apr. 10, 1995 and which is an application forreissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,157 of Nov. 29, 1994..Iaddend.

This invention relates to a cleaning system for use to clean thecylinders of printing machines. More particularly, the invention relatesto a pre-packaged, pre-soaked blanket cleaning system to clean thecylinders of printing machines. While the invention is disclosed as itapplies to the cleaning of the cylinders of printing machines for thesake of simplicity, it is to be understood that it can also be utilizedto clean the cylinders of other types of machinery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of blanket cleaning systems and apparatus employing thesame to clean the cylinders of printing machinery are known. Typicalblanket cleaning systems and apparatus employing the same, includingcleaning blankets and cleaning solutions, are exemplified by U.S. Pat.No. 4,135,448 to Moestue which discloses a mechanism for cleaning acylinder that is provided with a cleaning cloth which is wetted with acleaning fluid or solution prior to its encountering the pressureroller; U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,391 to Futch et al. which shows acomposition for ink removal that exhibits a low vapor pressure and whichis a low vapor pressure organic compound; U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,182 toSawaguchi et al. which discloses a cleaning apparatus in which acleaning cloth is dampened by a liquid; U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,716 toGerson which shows a wash for removing ink comprising a low volatileorganic compound; U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,739 to Loos which discloses awashing device comprising a cleaning cloth dampened with a washingmedium; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,128 to Hara which shows a device forcleaning a cylinder of a printing machine comprising a cleaning clothimpregnated with a cleaning liquid.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,567 to Staehr discloses a liquid forcleaning ink from printing machines; U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,342 to Harashows a method for cleaning the cylinder of a printing machine; and U.S.Pat. No. 5,143,639 to Krawack discloses a cloth moistened with a lowvapor pressure cleaning agent for removing ink; whereas Weltman et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,754 disclose a cloth soaked with a cleaning formula,and U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,173 to Folkard et al. discloses a method forremoving ink from printing machines. Still further, U.S. Pat. Nos.4,344,361 and 4,757,763 to MacPhee et al. disclose automatic blanketcylinder cleaners provided with cleaner fabrics adapted to contact theblanket cylinders of printing machines. On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No.5,175,080 to Gasparrini et al. discloses a cloth supply system for theblanket cylinder for use in printing presses.

While the above-mentioned Patents accomplish their purposes to asatisfactory extent, they still exhibit a variety of drawbacks. Forexample, they usually require apparatus, such as pumps, spray bars,manifold lines, valves and the like as part of the automatic blanketcleaning systems for introducing the cleaning solvents or solutions tothe cleaning fabric just prior to actual use. Moreover, even in thesecases, where the cleaning rolls or fabric rolls are pre-soaked orpre-wetted, the pre-soaking or pre-wetting must be accomplished justbefore use in order to minimize loss of cleaning solvent or solution inorder to provide an effective blanket cleaning system.

There exists, therefore, a need for providing a pre-packaged, pre-soakedblanket cleaning system which does not exhibit the above-mentioneddisadvantages and drawbacks. The present invention fulfills such a need.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a pre-packaged,pre-soaked cleaning system for use with printing machines to clean thecylinders thereof comprising:

(1) a pre-soaked fabric roll saturated to equilibrium with lowvolatility organic compound solvent and which is disposed around anelongated, cylindrical core having open ends, and

(2) a heat-sealed or a heat-shrunken and heat-sealed plastic sleevedisposed around and in intimate contact with the fabric roll, wherebythe pre-soaked, saturated fabric roll can be transported and storedvertically and/or horizontally until use without substantiallydisturbing the distribution of the solvent in the fabric roll anddetrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of the fabric.

The invention also includes the method for making the inventivepre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system. Broadly, the method comprisescontacting a strip of cleaning fabric with low volatility organiccompound solvent which does not evaporate readily at ambient temperatureand pressure and pre-soaking and saturating the fabric with the solvent,draining off excess solvent from the saturated fabric and obtaining afabric saturated to equilibrium with solvent; wrapping the drained,saturated fabric around an elongated cylindrical core having open endsand forming a roll; disposing a heat-sealable plastic sleeve around thesaturated, drained, wrapped fabric roll and subjecting the saturated,drained, wrapped fabric roll to a temperature sufficient to heat-sealthe plastic sleeve around the saturated, drained, wrapped fabric roll inintimate contact with the fabric roll, whereby the pre-soaked, saturatedfabric roll can be transported and stored vertically and/or horizontallyuntil use without substantially disturbing the distribution of thesolvent in the fabric roll and detrimentally affecting the cleaningability of the fabric roll.

In a more specific aspect of the method, the strip of cleaning fabric iswrapped around the elongated cylindrical core to form a roll beforecontacting the strip of cleaning fabric with solvent.

In still another more specific aspect of the method, it includessubjecting the heat-sealable plastic sleeve to a vacuum and drawing thesleeve into intimate contact with the wrapped fabric roll after it hasbeen disposed in the heat-sealable plastic sleeve.

In yet another more specific aspect of the method, the cleaning fabricis contacted with the low volatility organic compound solvent after thefabric is wrapped on the cylindrical core to form a roll by immersingthe wrapped fabric roll in the solvent at ambient pressure andtemperature and then drained at ambient pressure and temperature toremove excess solvent.

In yet another more specific aspect of the method, when the cleaningfabric is pre-soaked, either as a flat sheet or as a roll after it hasbeen wrapped onto a cylindrical core, it is preferable that the fabricbe subjected to a vacuum in a vacuum chamber or the like in order toremove air therefrom before pre-soaking thereof takes place. In thisconnection, any suitable vacuum chamber or device can be employed.

Still further in another more specific aspect of the method, the plasticsleeve employed is not only heat-sealable but also heat-shrinkable andthe sleeve is subjected to a temperature sufficient to heat-seal andheat-shrink the sleeve around the fabric roll.

In addition, the method, in another more specific aspect, includes theinsertion of end caps in the open ends of the elongated cylindrical coreand which extend over the peripheral edges of the fabric roll before theroll is inserted in the plastic sleeve.

Thus, in another embodiment of the pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaningsystem according to the invention described above, the system includes aplastic sleeve disposed around and in intimate contact with the fabricroll which is not only heat-sealed, but also heat-shrunken.

Moreover, in a still further modified embodiment, the system includesend caps inserted in the open ends of the elongated cylindrical corewhich extend over the peripheral edges of the fabric roll.

In still a further modified embodiment of the pre-packaged andpre-soaked blanket cleaning system of the invention, it may also includea slotted canister in which the wrapped, drained, saturated roll isdisposed. In such modified embodiment, the method of making the systemis also modified to include an additional step of inserting the wrappeddrained, saturated fabric roll into the slotted canister beforeintroducing the same into the plastic sleeve.

THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention more fully, reference is directedto the accompanying Drawing, which is to be taken in conjunction withfollowing detailed description of the invention and in which Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a lateral, sectional, elevational view of a pre-packaged,pre-soaked cleaning system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a lateral, sectional, elevational view of the system shown inFIG. 1, including the disposition of the pre-soaked, wrapped roll in aslotted canister before it is inserted in the heat-sealable sleeveand/or heat-sealable and heat-shrinkable sleeve shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial, sectional, elevational, diagrammatic view of thesystem shown in FIG. 1 employing end caps disposed in the open ends ofthe elongated cylindrical core and extending over the peripheral edgesof the fabric roll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning systemaccording to the invention comprises an elongated cylindrical core 11made from, for example, relatively heavy cardboard of sufficientstrength so that it can support thereon a pre-soaked fabric roll 13 ofpaper or cloth. On the other hand, if desired, the core may also be madeof metal, such as steel, aluminum and the like. The fabric is pre-soakedand saturated to equilibrium with low volatility organic compoundsolvent, as described in more detail hereinbelow, before or after it iswrapped around the core 11 to form roll 13 in any convenient manner andthe roll is then inserted in a sleeve 15 made of heat-sealable orheat-sealable and heat-shrinkable plastic material which is heat-sealedalong its edge 17 or heat-shrunken and heat-sealed along its edge 17, sothat sleeve 15 is in intimate contact with the fabric roll 13. The core11 is also preferably provided with engagement means 19, such as ballbearings or the like, or with other suitable means, for reception of ashaft 21 (FIG. 2) located on an appropriate machine, such as a printingmachine or the like (not shown) provided with a take-up roll to take-upcleaning fabric after it has achieved its cleaning function.

It has been surprisingly found that the pre-packaged, pre-soakedcleaning system described is a very stable system which can betransported and stored in a horizontal and/or vertical disposition untiluse without substantially disturbing the distribution of the solvent inthe fabric roll and detrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of thefabric.

In the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, thepre-soaked roll is inserted in a canister 23, provided with a slit 25through which a portion of the fabric roll 13 can be withdrawn beforethe assembly is sealed in the sleeve 15.

In the modified embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the system of thisinvention is also preferably provided with end caps, such as end cap 25,made of plastic or metal or the like disposed in the open ends of thecore 11. The end caps extend over the peripheral edges of the fabricroll 13 and the sleeve 15 may extend, as shown, over the edges of theend caps, or it may extend completely around the ends of the roll 13 asshown in FIG. 1. Obviously, when a slotted canister 23 is employed, endcaps will not be used. Moreover, it is to be understood that it iswithin the purview of this invention that the sleeve is sizedconveniently to accommodate the roll to be covered thereby and to bedrawn or shrunken into intimate contact with the roll and heat-sealed,as needed, whether it be open at both ends or at one end only.

The fabric from which the fabric roll is made may vary widely. Forexample, it may be made of paper or cloth. In those cases where a clothfabric is employed, it may be a woven or a non-woven cloth fabric madeof synthetic or natural fibers or mixtures of the same. Exemplative, butnot limitative, of suitable synthetic fibers which may be used in thecloth fabrics are polyester fibers, rayon fibers, nylon fibers, andacrylic fibers and the like. Exemplative, but not limitative, of thenatural fibers which may be employed are cotton fibers, wood pulp fibersand hemp fibers and the like.

In those cases where paper is employed as the fabric material, paperfabrics made from wood pulp modified chemically in accordance with papermanufacturing technology are suitable, for example.

On the other hand, no matter whether paper or cloth fabric is employedin carrying out the practice of this invention, it is preferred that thematerials used therein exhibit high acceptability to being soaked orwetted by the low volatility organic compound solvent used to saturatethe same. In this regard, it is preferred that the fabric employed beone which has a caliper thickness in a range of from about 0.003 ..mils.!. .Iadd.inch .Iaddend.to about . .0.030 mils.!. .Iadd.0.30inch.Iaddend., and preferably in a range of from about 0.008 . .mils.!..Iadd.inch .Iaddend.to about 0.020 . .mils.!. .Iadd.inch.Iaddend., andthe ability when saturated with low volatility organic compound solventto retain from about 0.05 to about 0.5 cc of solvent per in² of fabricdetermined by routine testing methods.

In general, woven and non-woven fabrics suitable for use in carrying outthe practice of the invention have a basis weight in a range of fromabout 1.5 ounces per square yard to about 6.0 ounces per square yard, acaliper thickness in the range mentioned above, a tensile strength inthe longitudinal (machine) direction in a range of from about 20 lbs.per inch to about 200 lbs. per inch and in a width (cross) direction ina range of from about 15 lbs per inch to about 125 lbs. per inch.

Where paper is employed as a cleaning fabric in the system of thisinvention, it has a basis weight in a range of from about 40 lbs. toabout 90 lbs., a caliper thickness in a range of from abut 0.003 ..mils.!. .Iadd.inch .Iaddend.to about 0.10 . .mils.!..Iadd.inch.Iaddend., a tensile strength in the longitudinal (machine)direction in a range of from about 20 lbs. per inch to about 80 lbs. perinch and in the width (cross) direction in a range of from abut 15 lbs.per inch to about 50 lbs. per inch, a porosity in a range of from about1.0 second to about 10 seconds when subjected to 100 cc of lowvolatility organic compound solvent or water, and a stretchability in arange of from about 1.0 percent to about 6.0 percent, all determined byroutine testing methods.

The low volatility organic compound solvent employed in carrying out thepractice of this invention may vary widely and generally it includes atleast one low volatility organic compound solvent which does not readilyevaporate, as well as mixtures of the same with similar low volatileorganic compound solvents or with normally volatile organic compoundsolvents. Exemplative, but not limitative, of suitable solvent materialsof this type are organic compound solvents selected from vegetable oilsand citrus oil and the like. Generally, such solvent materials have avolatility in a range of from about zero up to about 30.0 percent, andpreferably a volatility in a range of from about zero percent to about20.0 percent, determined by routine testing methods. It is to beunderstood that within the purview of this invention, such suitablesolvents also include normally volatile organic compound solvents, thatis, those which readily evaporate and which are selected from mineralspirits and aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents and the like. Such solventmaterials generally have a volatility of from zero up to about 100percent determined by routine testing methods.

A wide variety of heat-sealable and/or heat-shrinkable and heat-sealableplastic materials may be used for the plastic sleeves employed in thepractice of this invention. For example, the sleeve may be made frompolyethylenes, polyolefins, polyvinyl chlorides, and polyamides and thelike. Generally, such materials are heat-sealable and/or heat-shrinkableand heat-sealable at a temperature in a range of from about 300° F. toabout 400° F., and preferably in a range of from about 350° F. to about375° F. Moreover, it is to be understood that within the purview of thisinvention, the heat-sealable and/or heat-shrinkable and heat-sealablesleeve may be made from heat-sealable and/or heat-shrinkable andheat-sealable paper.

The method for making a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning systemaccording to the invention comprises contacting a strip of cleaningfabric with low volatility organic compound solvent which does notevaporate readily at ambient pressure and temperature and pre-soakingand saturating the fabric with the solvent, draining of excess solventfrom the saturated fabric and obtaining a fabric saturated toequilibrium with the solvent; wrapping the drained, saturated fabricaround an elongated cylindrical core having open ends and forming aroll; disposing a heat-sealable plastic sleeve around the drained,saturated, wrapped fabric roll and subjecting the sleeve to atemperature sufficient to heat seal the plastic sleeve around thedrained, saturated, wrapped fabric roll in intimate contact with thefabric roll, whereby the pre-soaked, saturated fabric roll can betransported and stored vertically and/or horizontally until use withoutdisturbing the distribution of the solvent in the fabric roll anddetrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of the fabric roll.

In a variation of the method, the fabric is preferably wrapped aroundthe core before contacting the same with the solvent. Wrapping of thefabric on the cylindrical core can be done in any convenient manner andrequires no special apparatus, a wide variety of roll making equipmentbeing readily available for accomplishing the same.

Whether the fabric is contacted with solvent either before or after theroll has been formed, the roll is then inserted in a heat-sealableand/or heat-sealable and heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve and the sleeveis heat-sealed and/or heat-sealed and heat-shrunken at any appropriatetemperature around the roll in intimate contact therewith. Generally,temperatures in a range of from about 300° F. to about 400° F. andpreferably in a range of from about 350° F. to about 375° F. toaccomplish the heat sealing and/or heat sealing and heat-shrinking ofthe saturated fabric roll in the plastic sleeve and bring the sleeveinto intimate contact with the fabric roll, as mentioned above, may beemployed.

In a variation of the method, it is preferred, especially where aheat-sealable plastic sleeve is employed, that once the fabric roll isinserted in the sleeve, the so assembled sleeve and roll be subjected toa vacuum which draws the heat-sealable plastic sleeve into intimatecontact with the wrapped fabric roll, while at the same time exhaustingany air from the interior of the sleeve, and then simply heat-sealingthe sleeve around the roll by application of heat to the open peripheraledges of the sleeve. Known appropriate vacuum apparatus and heat-sealingapparatus may be used by simple adaptation of the same physically toaccomplish apparatus for applying the vacuum and heat-sealing of thesleeve.

On the other hand, where a sleeve employed in carrying out the method inboth heat-sealable and heat-shrinkable, then one or more small openingsor vent holes (not shown) in the sleeve, preferably located near theopen edges of the sleeve, are provided to permit exhaustion of air fromthe sleeve as heat-sealing and heat-shrinking is accomplished, thelocation of such opening or openings assuring that any such opening oropenings will be closed during the heat-sealing and heat-shrinking ofthe sleeve.

In accordance with the method of this invention, contact between thefabric strip and the solvent can be achieved in a variety of ways. Forexample, if desirable, the appropriate solvent may be poured over thefabric in amounts sufficient to saturate the same while simplypermitting excess solvent to drain off into a tray, or the solvent canbe sprayed on the fabric. The saturation step can be carried out atambient temperature and pressure and the excess, as mentioned, simplypermitted to drain off for a period of time sufficient to obtain afabric saturated to equilibrium with the solvent.

However, it is within the purview of the invention that the fabric stripbe immersed or transported through a tank of appropriate solvent in asubstantially horizontal direction either before or after, andpreferably after, it has been wrapped on the core to form a roll. Aftersaturation has taken place, the saturated fabric is preferably simplysuspended in a position to permit excess solvent to drain off and becollected in a trap for reuse.

Wrapping of the fabric on the elongated cylindrical core to form a roll,as well as draining thereof, may also take place at ambient temperatureand pressure. When saturation and wrapping to form a roll are completed,the roll is inserted in the heat-sealable or heat-shrinkable andheat-sealable plastic sleeve and the sleeve is heat-sealed and/orheat-shrunk and heat-sealed at a temperature sufficient to heat-seal orheat-shrink and heat-seal the sleeve around the drained, saturated,wrapped fabric roll in intimate contact with the fabric roll. In thisregard, the particular heat-shrinking and heat-sealing temperature willbe dependent upon the type of heat-shrinkable and heat-sealable materialutilized and may extend in a range of from about the softeningtemperature of such material up to about the decomposition temperatureof such material. Care must be taken, however, to be sure that theparticular temperature employed is not so high that it will have adeleterious effect on the saturated fabric roll disposed in the plasticsleeve.

In general, heat-shrinking and heat-sealing can be achieved attemperatures in a range of from about 300° F. up to about 400° F., andpreferably are achieved at temperatures in a range of from about 350° F.up to about 375° F. and may be carried out in an oven, or underheat-radiating lamps.

The plastic sleeve will be sized so that the wrapped roll can beinserted therein with facility and the open edges of the sleeve thenbrought together in contact with each other in order to seal the same,while at the same time, being sized also so that when shrinking takesplace, it will be brought into intimate contact with the fabric rollaround which it is disposed.

In those cases where the saturated wrapped fabric roll is to be employedwith a slotted canister, the roll is simply inserted in the canisterwith a portion thereof protruding through the slot and the canister isprovided with knock-out end portions which may be inserted therein afterinsertion of the roll, such end portions simply being removed when theroll is to be disposed on an appropriate shaft of a printing apparatusor the like in order to permit insertion of the shaft through the coreof the roll, as well as removal of the shaft from the core. Moreover,the canister may be made from metals, such as light gauge steel,aluminum and the like or from cardboard or from plastic materials, suchas polyethylenes, polyolefins, polyvinyl chlorides, polyamides, and thelike.

In those instances where end caps, such as end cap 25, are employed inmaking the pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system of this invention,the end caps, which may be made of the same materials mentioned abovefor the canister 23, are simply inserted in the open ends of thecylindrical core after the wrapping, saturation and draining steps ofthe method have been accomplished.

It is to be understood that within the context of this invention, theterminology "saturated to equilibrium" as it is used in connection withthe saturation of the fabric and/or fabric roll with solvent means thatafter draining the fabric and/or fabric roll retains therein sufficientsolvent in an amount to wet the fabric to the extent that it impartsefficient cleaning ability to the fabric to clean cylinders ofapparatus, such as printing machinery, and the fabric has retainedtherein after draining from about 0.05 to about 0.5 cc of solvent perin² of fabric.

The so-made pre-packaged, pre-soaked blanket cleaning system of thisinvention can be employed on any printing apparatus, simply by modifyingthe apparatus to provide it with a shaft which can be inserted throughthe core and also a take-up roll which is employed to take up the usedportion of the cleaning fabric after it has carried out its cleaningfunction. This is a distinct advantage of the cleaning system of thisinvention since it eliminates the need for complex apparatus, such aspumps, spray bars, manifold lines, valves and the like, especially aspart of the automatic blanket cleaning systems used on printingmachinery to introduce cleansing solvents or solutions to the cleaningfabrics just prior to use.

In addition, the cleaning system of this invention provides numerousother advantages. For example, it is relatively simple in construction,employs readily available materials and can be made in a relativelysimple and forward manner without resort to highly complex and expensiveprocedures which necessitate the use of elaborate machinery. Numerousother advantages of this invention will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

Accordingly, this invention is not to be limited to the embodimentsdisclosed and illustrated herein, except as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system foruse to clean the cylinders of printing machines comprising:(1) apre-soaked fabric roll saturated to equilibrium with low volatilityorganic compound solvent disposed around an elongated cylindrical corehaving open ends, and (2) a heat-sealed plastic sleeve disposed aroundand in intimate contact with said fabric roll, whereby the pre-soaked,saturated fabric roll can be transported and stored vertically andhorizontally until use without substantially disturbing the distributionof said solvent in said fabric roll and detrimentally affecting thecleaning ability of the fabric.
 2. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaningsystem as defined in claim 1 wherein the fabric is a cloth fabric.
 3. Apre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system as defined in claim 2 whereinthe cloth comprises non-woven synthetic fiber material.
 4. Apre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system as defined in claim 2 whereinthe cloth comprises woven synthetic fiber material.
 5. A pre-packaged,pre-soaked cleaning system as defined in claim 2 wherein the clothcomprises non-woven natural fiber material.
 6. A pre-packaged,pre-soaked cleaning system as defined in claim 2 wherein the clothcomprises woven, natural fiber material.
 7. A pre-packaged, pre-soakedcleaning system as defined in claim 2 wherein the cloth comprises amixture of synthetic and natural fiber materials.
 8. A pre-packaged,pre-soaked cleaning system as defined in claim 2 wherein the fabric hasa basis weight in a range of from about 1.5 ounces per square yard toabout 6.0 ounces per square yard, a caliper thickness in a range of fromabout 0.003 . .mils.!. .Iadd.inch .Iaddend.to about 0.30 . .mils.!..Iadd.inch.Iaddend., a tensile strength in the longitudinal direction ina range of from about 20 lbs. per inch to about 200 lbs. per inch and ina width direction in a range of from about 15 lbs. per inch to about 125lbs. per inch.
 9. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system as definedin claim 1 wherein the fabric is paper fabric.
 10. A pre-packaged,pre-soaked cleaning system as defined in claim 9 wherein the paperfabric has a basis weight in a range of from about 40 lbs. to about 90lbs., a caliper thickness in a range of from about 0.003 . .mils.!..Iadd.inch .Iaddend.to about . .0.010 mils.!. .Iadd.0.10 inch.Iaddend.,a tensile strength in the longitudinal direction in a range of fromabout 20 lbs. per inch to about 80 lbs. per inch and in a widthdirection in a range of from about 15 lbs. per inch to about 50 lbs. perinch, a porosity in a range of from about 1.0 second to about 10seconds, and a stretchability in a range of from about 1.0 percent toabout 6.0 percent.
 11. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system asdefined in claim 1 wherein the low volatility organic compound solventcomprises at least one organic solvent compound which does not readilyevaporate and is selected from the group consisting of vegetable oilsand citrus oils having a volatility in a range of from about zero up toabout 30 percent.
 12. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system asdefined in claim 1 wherein the low volatility organic compound solventcomprises at least one organic solvent compound which readily evaporatesand which is selected from mineral spirits and aliphatic hydrocarbonsolvents and a volatility in a range of from about zero up to about 100percent.
 13. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system as defined inclaim 1 wherein the heat-sealed plastic sleeve is comprised of aheat-sealable plastic material selected from the group consisting ofheat sealable polyethylenes, heat-sealable polyolefins, polyvinylchlorides, and heat-sealable polyamides.
 14. A pre-packaged, pre-soakedcleaning system as defined in claim 1 wherein the heat-sealed plasticsleeve is also heat-shrinkable and is comprised of a heat-sealable andheat-shrinkable plastic material selected from the group consisting ofheat-sealable and heat-shrinkable polyethylenes, heat-sealable andheat-shrinkable polyolefins, heat-sealable and heat-shrinkable polyvinylchlorides, and heat-sealable and heat-shrinkable polyamides.
 15. Apre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system according to claim 1 includinga canister disposed between the pre-soaked fabric roll and theheat-sealed plastic sleeve.
 16. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaningsystem according to claim 1 including end caps located in the open endsof the elongated cylindrical core and extending over the peripheraledges of the fabric roll.
 17. A method for making a pre-packaged,pre-soaked cleaning system comprising contacting a strip of cleaningfabric with low volatility, organic compound solvent which does notevaporate readily at ambient temperature and pressure and pre-soakingand saturating said fabric with said solvent, draining off excesssolvent from said saturated fabric and obtaining a fabric saturated toequilibrium with said solvent; wrapping the drained, saturated fabricaround an elongated cylindrical core having open ends and forming aroll; disposing a heat-sealable plastic sleeve around the drained,saturated, wrapped fabric roll and subjecting said plastic sleeve to atemperature sufficient to heat-seal said plastic sleeve around saiddrained, saturated, wrapped fabric roll in intimate contact with thefabric roll, whereby the pre-soaked, saturated fabric roll can betransported and stored vertically and horizontally until use withoutsubstantially disturbing the distribution of said solvent in said fabricroll and detrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of the fabricroll.
 18. A method for making a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning systemas defined in claim 17 wherein the strip of cleaning fabric is wrappedaround the elongated cylindrical core to form a roll before contactingsaid strip of cleaning fabric with the solvent.
 19. A method for makinga pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system according to claim 17including subjecting the heat-sealable plastic sleeve to a vacuum anddrawing the heat-sealable plastic sleeve into intimate contact with thewrapped fabric roll after disposing the wrapped fabric roll in saidheat-sealable plastic sleeve and before heat-sealing said plasticsleeve.
 20. A method for making a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaningsystem according to claim 17 including inserting the wrapped fabric rollinto a slotted canister before it is introduced into the plastic sleeve.21. A method for making a pre-packaged, pre-sealed cleaning systemaccording to claim 17 including inserting end caps in the open ends ofthe elongated cylindrical core which extend over the peripheral edges ofthe fabric roll before said fabric roll is inserted into the plasticsleeve.
 22. A method for making a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaningsystem as defined in claim 17 wherein the cleaning fabric is immersed atambient temperature and pressure in the low volatility organic compoundsolvent to saturate said fabric and then drained at ambient temperatureand pressure to remove excess solvent before said fabric is wrapped onthe cylindrical core to form a roll.
 23. A method for making apre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system as defined in claim 17 whereinthe cleaning fabric is immersed at ambient temperature and pressure inthe low volatility organic compound solvent to saturate said fabric andthen drained at ambient temperature and pressure to remove excesssolvent after said fabric is wrapped on the cylindrical core to form aroll.
 24. A method according to claim 17 wherein the cleaning fabric ispaper.
 25. A method for making a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaningsystem comprising contacting a strip of cleaning fabric with lowvolatility, organic compound solvent which does not evaporate readily atambient temperature and pressure and pre-soaking and saturating saidfabric with said solvent, draining off excess solvent from saidsaturated fabric and obtaining a fabric saturated to equilibrium withsaid solvent; wrapping the drained, saturated fabric around an elongatedcylindrical core and forming a roll; disposing a heat-shrinkable andheat-sealable plastic sleeve around the drained, saturated, wrappedfabric roll and subjecting said plastic sleeve to a temperaturesufficient to heat-shrink and heat-seal said plastic sleeve around saiddrained, saturated, wrapped fabric roll in intimate contact with thefabric roll, whereby the pre-soaked, saturated fabric roll can betransported and stored vertically and horizontally until use withoutsubstantially disturbing the distribution of said solvent in said fabricroll and detrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of the fabricroll.
 26. A method for making a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning systemas defined in claim 25 wherein the plastic sleeve is heat-shrunken andheat-sealed at a temperature in a range of from about 300° F. to about400° F.
 27. A method for making a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaningsystem as defined in claim 25 wherein the plastic sleeve isheat-shrunken and heat-sealed at a temperature in a range of from about350° F. to about 375° F. .Iadd.
 28. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaningsystem for use to clean the cylinders of printing machinescomprising:(1) a pre-soaked fabric roll saturated to equilibrium withlow volatility organic compound solvent disposed around a core, and (2)a sealed sleeve disposed around and in contact with said fabric roll,whereby the pre-soaked, saturated fabric roll can be transported andstored vertically and horizontally until use without substantiallydisturbing the distribution of said solvent in said fabric roll anddetrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of thefabric..Iaddend..Iadd.
 29. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system asdefined in claim 28 wherein the sealed sleeve can be opened or removedfrom the fabric roll for use of said fabric roll and including incombination therewith means for positioning said pre-packaged,pre-soaked cleaning system adjacent a cylinder to becleaned..Iaddend..Iadd.30. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system asdefined in claim 1 wherein the sealed sleeve can be opened or removedfrom the fabric roll for use of said fabric roll and including meanslocating said fabric roll adjacent to and operatively associated with acylinder to be cleaned..Iaddend..Iadd.31. A pre-packaged, pre-soakedcleaning system as defined in claim 28, in combination with mountingmeans for mounting the pre-soaked fabric roll in a position to clean acylinder while the fabric is in contact with and being fed past saidcylinder..Iaddend..Iadd.32. A pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning systemfor use to clean the cylinder of printing machines comprising incombination:(1) a pre-soaked fabric roll saturated to equilibrium withcleaning solvent disposed around a core, said fabric roll having asealed sleeve which can be opened or removed from said fabric roll foruse of said fabric roll, disposed therearound, and said system including(2) means for locating said fabric roll adjacent to and operativelyassociated with a cylinder to be cleaned..Iaddend.